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GAURIKUND TO TUNGNATH

Traveled through the Central Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh (now, Uttaranchal) across the districts of Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehre-Garwal, Chamoli and Pauri.

The Routes I reavelled during this journey are

Our next journey was to TUNGNATH, accordingly we started from GAURIKUND on 25th October, for CHOPTA via KUND. But reaching KUND we fond that only available bus VUKH-HARTAL would not run that day. Being compelled we hired a taxi for Rs. 400/- towards 38 km long high route. This was an alternative route for BADRINATH via UKHIMATH, DOGALBITTA, CHOPTA, GOPESWAR and CHAMOLI. We had to passed through a thick green forest – the taxi driver told us that the place was full of wild animals just before 7 or 8 years back, he had to stopped car for tigers and bears going across the road. After reaching DOGALBITA, we stopped the car in front of DOGALBITA Tourist Guest House.
The Guest House was originally built by the British – is located in a very good site for viewing Himalayan beauties. Here, we arranged a small picnic with the driver and on going local men. This day was a frequently changing weather day, sometimes became cloudy and all of sudden became sunny. Just after the leaving DOGABITTA, we experienced a eccentric exceptional weather in this cold windy day – suddenly the sun began to shining brightly – and even in the bright sunlight snow drift shower on roof and front glass of our taxi with tapping sound scattering the hailstones all round, was a precious moment to remember - particularly in my life.

It was then 10-35 hrs. When we reached CHOPTA. We kept our luggage in the custody of Mangal Sing , a hotel owner - then started trekking 3.4 km ascending high route to visit TUNGNATH Temple.

Mangal Sing is owner of a small hotel, which is situated just at the bottom of TUNGNATH hill. At first appearance, it would look as a small shop, but fresh footings and lodging also available in this small hut of Mangal Sing.

The weather was turning awful, everything was gradually going under the cloud – even the gigantic mountains were vanishing one after another. We were then just trekked only for 2 km, and came to a place to take a little rest, but cool windy weather made us more restless – clouds were floating even in our height that we could not see the route we crossed and the route ahead – the entire route was missing and felt that world had finished just near the slope, only a infinite sky existed – we were in confusion whether it was a dawn or evening in the mid 12.50 hrs of noon. We began to trek hard and faster to get rid of cold.

On reaching TUNGNATH at 14-15 hrs., we found that temple priest was ready to come down to CHOPTA with some pilgrims. On seeing us the priest took us to the TUNGNATH Temple for darshan and puja, then advised us to return to CHOPTA with him because the weather would be very bad at night here. But we only five boys on the day of Dewali wished to spend the night here with an expectation of having a clear sky morning. It was then only 16-00 hrs in the evening but we were feeling very cool and it was became impossible to stay outside in the strong cold wind. The young Dilbug Sing was very helpful, he arranged fire in his small hut collecting woods from the hills. All Rabi, Madan, Balai and Ramlal were very pleased by sitting around the fire, wearing shawl on their bodies. They were in so comport that even refused to response the call of nature. I went out to witness sunset in this cloudy weather, saw excellent scenery in west. The reflected ray scattered over the thousand of hills with radish layers of clouds, seems as an ocean of flame with thousands of calm waves. Only I was there alone to witness the marvelous scenery on TUNGNATH, I felt myself very lucky - thank GOD.

The famous Temple is situated at a height of 3680 m above sea-level and from here one can view the peaks of PANCH CHULI, DUNAGIRI, NILKANTH, KEDARNATH, YAMUNTRI, GONGOTRI, BANDAR PUNCH AND NANDADEVI. This place is 3.4 km from CHOPTA

It was 19-30 hrs. Dilbar Sing brought our dinner to the fireplace, where we were sitting around in the comfort of fire. Soon after taking meals everybody fell asleep, But Rabi and myself gossiped long time with the Dilbar Sing. He was a good speaker, told us many stores - about Garwal and Nepali girls, a love story with girl and how he had to faces difficulties in different places when he flew away with this girl. Now he is in home after a bitter experience. He described the story so lovely that we forgot to sleep, and concluded the story with the saying - he would marry a Rajput girl soon as being Rajput himself.

On 26Th October, we got up early at 5 O’clock in the morning but nobody wanted to come out from the comfort of the bed. At was then 6 o’clock in the morning a very clear sky day, everything were clearly visible. The long snow-clad range of Himalayas were viewing clearly, looking marvelous white peaks under the blue sky were really enjoyable. Taking tea, we started downward trekking from TUNGNATH Temple to CHOPTA.

We reached at the bottom of TUNGNATH hill and started to get ready for our next journey to GOPESWAR by Vuk-hartal bus at 9 hrs.

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